All Members of the Basketball Manitoba Board of Directors are responsible for upholding the Association's mandate and the statements set out in the Association's Bylaws and Policies. Each member has one vote when present at an official meeting of the Board of Directors, except the President, who votes only in the case of a tie. Members of the Board attend monthly meetings (traditionally on the last Monday of the month), assist the Association with fundraising and special events, and maintain the portfolio specific to their assigned duties.The full Basketball Manitoba Board of Directors for 2026-27 are:
- Sara Gillis - President
- Mike Weekes - Vice President
- Sheree Carmona-Galdamez - Treasurer
- Keenan Benarroch - Director
- Stacy Hawash - Director
- Trevor Johnson - Director
- Marlin Kraus - Director
- Yadili Okwumabua-Gbakima - Director
- Kirby Schepp - Director
- Michèle Sung - Director
- Jaime Taggart - Director
President - Sara GillisSara (Conlin) Gillis has been immersed in basketball for more than 40 years as an athlete, coach, teacher, official, volunteer, and sport leader. Her basketball roots began in Brandon, where she played at Earl Oxford Junior High School and Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School before continuing her playing career for five seasons with the Brandon University Bobcats. Sara also represented Manitoba for four seasons with the Provincial Team, including serving as a member of the 1985 Canada Games silver-medal team.
Throughout her 29-year teaching career as a physical educator, Sara played a major role in building basketball opportunities for students and young athletes, particularly in northern Manitoba. Twenty-six of her 29 years of teaching were spent at R.D. Parker Collegiate in Thompson, where she coached high school girls’ basketball and finished her high school coaching career with back-to-back MHSAA AAA Basketball Championship titles in 2015 and 2016 with the R.D. Parker Collegiate Varsity Girls program.
Sara’s impact in Thompson and northern Manitoba extended well beyond her own school teams. She coached regional and club teams, officiated basketball, ran clinics, camps, and club leagues for children and youth, organized tournaments and events, and mentored officials and coaches. Her work helped grow the game in communities where access, distance, and resources can often be significant barriers to participation.
Since retiring from teaching in 2016, Sara has continued to contribute to basketball in a wide range of volunteer and leadership roles. She volunteered at the 2016 Canada Basketball Men’s National Championships and the 2017 Canada Games, joined the Targeted Athlete Program coaching staff, coached junior high basketball in her local rural community, continued officiating, and has remained active as a player in the Winnipeg Women’s Basketball League and in several international Masters and Seniors basketball competitions.
As President of the Basketball Manitoba Board of Directors, Sara brings a broad and deeply rooted perspective to the association. Her background as a provincial team athlete, university player, championship coach, educator, official, rural and northern basketball builder, and lifelong participant gives her a strong understanding of the game at every level. Her leadership helps guide Basketball Manitoba with a focus on province-wide development, inclusive access, coach and official mentorship, athlete pathways, and the long-term health of basketball across Manitoba.
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Vice President - Mike WeekesMike Weekes has been involved in basketball in Manitoba for more than 30 years as a university athlete, coach, educator, convenor, administrator, and sport leader. As a former member of the University of Manitoba Bisons men’s basketball program from 1993 to 1998, Mike brings a strong understanding of the game from both the athlete and leadership perspectives.
Following his playing career, Mike remained actively involved in the basketball community through coaching, education, and program leadership. He has coached at the middle years and senior years levels for more than 20 years, including involvement in several provincial championship environments. In 2004, he was named Middle Years Coach of the Year, and in 2006, he was a JHBC Provincial Champion at the Grade 9 boys level.
Mike has also contributed to basketball through community programming and team organization, serving in various coaching, educator, and convenor roles over the years. His experience working with young athletes has given him a strong appreciation for the importance of positive coaching, school-based sport, athlete development, and creating meaningful opportunities for students to stay connected to the game.
As a school administrator in the Pembina Trails School Division, Mike brings valuable professional leadership experience to his role with Basketball Manitoba. His work in education has provided him with a strong foundation in communication, decision-making, policy, mentorship, conflict resolution, and organizational leadership. He has also taken on many different leadership roles within his school division, further strengthening his ability to contribute to governance and long-term planning.
Mike has had the opportunity to work with many provincial team and university-level athletes throughout his basketball career. Those experiences have helped shape his understanding of the athlete pathway in Manitoba, from school and community basketball through to provincial and post-secondary levels.
As Vice President of the Basketball Manitoba Board of Directors, Mike brings a steady, experienced, and education-focused perspective to the organization. His background as a former university athlete, long-time coach, school administrator, and community basketball leader allows him to contribute meaningfully to discussions around governance, school basketball, athlete development, coach support, and the future direction of basketball in Manitoba. His long-standing commitment to the game and vested interest in its growth continue to make him a valuable leader within the association.
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Sheree Carmona-Galdamez has been involved in basketball in Manitoba as a player, coach, and community leader. A graduate of Kelvin High School, Sheree continued her playing career at the University of Manitoba, where she was a member of the Bisons women’s basketball program for five seasons from 2010 to 2015.
Following her university playing career, Sheree moved into coaching and served as an Assistant Coach with the Canadian Mennonite University women’s basketball program for eight seasons from 2015 to 2023. In that role, she supported athlete development, team preparation, practice planning, and the program's overall growth while continuing to contribute to the post-secondary basketball community in Manitoba.
Sheree has also remained connected to the grassroots level of the game. She recently served as a WMBA Community Head Coach with the 14U girls program, helping young athletes develop their skills, confidence, and understanding of the game in a positive team environment.
In addition to her basketball background, Sheree brings strong professional experience in finance and governance. She has been a Chartered Professional Accountant since 2018 and works at a public accounting firm. Her professional background provides valuable perspective in financial oversight, accountability, planning, and organizational decision-making.
With experience as a university student-athlete, post-secondary coach, youth coach, and financial professional, Sheree brings a well-rounded perspective to the Basketball Manitoba Board of Directors. Her combination of basketball experience, professional expertise, and commitment to youth development will be a valuable addition to the association's leadership.
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Keenan Benarroch has been involved in basketball in Manitoba and beyond as a university athlete, coach, teacher, and basketball development leader. He played for the University of Manitoba Bisons from 2014 to 2017, gaining valuable experience as a post-secondary athlete and building a strong foundation in high-performance basketball.
Following his playing career, Keenan transitioned into coaching and served as an Assistant Coach with the University of Manitoba men’s basketball program during the 2017-18 season. During that time, he also worked as a program coordinator with the Junior Bisons, helping support youth programming and athlete development.
Keenan later joined the Toronto Metropolitan University women’s basketball program as an Assistant Coach from 2019 to 2023. During his time with TMU, he contributed to one of the most successful periods in the program’s history, including the 2021-22 season when the team completed a perfect 20-0 record and captured both the OUA and U SPORTS National Championships.
His coaching experience also includes work at the provincial, national, and grassroots levels. In 2021, Keenan served as Head Coach of the Downtown Toronto Centre for Performance program and as an Apprentice Coach with the Ontario 15U Provincial Girls team. He has also been involved with Manitoba Provincial Team programming from 2025 to the present, contributed to the Junior Academy program, and served as Head Coach of the Fort Richmond Collegiate JV Boys team for the 2025-26 season.
Keenan has also contributed to basketball through performance analysis and coach development. In 2020, he worked as a Video Coordinator and Performance Analyst with Canada Basketball’s 3x3 Men’s National Team during the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, providing video analysis and performance insights to support team preparation. He has also served as Director of Coach Development with the Winnipeg Minor Basketball Association, helping strengthen the coaching pathway and support coach education in the community.
Professionally, Keenan is a teacher at Dakota Collegiate, bringing experience in education, communication, leadership, and youth development. He is also continuing his involvement with the University of Manitoba Bisons program as an assistant coach.
With experience as a university player, post-secondary coach, provincial team coach, grassroots program leader, teacher, and coach development contributor, Keenan brings a strong and well-rounded basketball background to the Basketball Manitoba Board of Directors. His leadership, coaching experience, and commitment to developing athletes and coaches will provide valuable perspective to the association.
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Director - Stacy Hawash
Stacy Hawash has been actively involved in basketball throughout her life as a player, coach, official, volunteer, educator, and sport leader. She played basketball throughout her school years and continued her playing career at the university level, competing for five seasons with the University of Manitoba Bisons.
Since 1996, Stacy has coached at a variety of levels across Manitoba, including junior high, high school, the Centre for Performance, and the Manitoba Provincial Team. Her coaching experience has allowed her to support athlete development at both the grassroots and high-performance levels while helping young players build their skills, confidence, and understanding of the game.
Stacy has also made a significant contribution to basketball as an official. Since 2000, she has officiated at the junior high, high school, club, adult league, and U SPORTS levels. Her experience as a referee provides her with a unique and valuable perspective on the game, including rules, game management, athlete and coach behaviour, and the importance of respect for officials within the basketball community.
In addition to her work on the court, Stacy has served in leadership roles within the officiating community, including previously serving as President of the Manitoba Association of Basketball Officials. Through that role, she contributed to the development, support, and organization of officials across the province, helping strengthen an essential part of the basketball system.
Stacy has also volunteered in several major basketball events and initiatives. She has kept statistics at the Pan Am Games, for the Winnipeg Thunder, and at National Championships. She also continues to support Basketball Manitoba through her volunteer work on the Basketball Manitoba Awards Committee, helping recognize athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, and builders who contribute to the game.
Professionally, Stacy is a teacher at Vincent Massey Collegiate in Winnipeg. Her background in education brings added value to her work in basketball, particularly in the areas of youth development, mentorship, communication, and leadership.
As a member of the Basketball Manitoba Board of Directors, Stacy brings a broad and balanced perspective shaped by her experience as a player, coach, official, educator, and volunteer. Her understanding of multiple areas of the game allows her to contribute meaningfully to discussions around athlete development, officiating, coach and official relations, recognition, sport culture, and the continued growth of basketball across Manitoba. Her leadership helps support a more connected, respectful, and well-rounded basketball community.
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Trevor Johnson joined the Basketball Manitoba Board of Directors through the merger of operations between Basketball Manitoba and the Manitoba Wheelchair Basketball Association, where he had served as President. In that leadership role, Trevor was instrumental in guiding the transition of wheelchair basketball operations to Basketball Manitoba, supporting a more integrated and sustainable structure for the sport across the province.
Through the merger process, Trevor demonstrated strong leadership, collaboration, and long-term vision. His ability to work through organizational change, build consensus, and keep the best interests of athletes, families, coaches, and the broader wheelchair basketball community at the forefront helped make the transition possible. His steady approach and commitment to the future of the sport have positioned wheelchair basketball for continued growth under the Basketball Manitoba umbrella.
Trevor’s involvement in wheelchair basketball is also deeply personal. His daughter, Beth Johnson, has been a member of Canada’s National Wheelchair Basketball Team, giving Trevor a first-hand understanding of the athlete pathway from local programming through to the national team level. That perspective allows him to contribute meaningfully to discussions around athlete development, accessibility, inclusion, family support, and high-performance opportunities.
As the Board member with the Wheelchair Basketball Operations portfolio, Trevor brings an important voice to Basketball Manitoba’s leadership table. His experience helps ensure that wheelchair basketball is represented within the association’s planning, programming, governance, and long-term strategic direction. He also brings a strong understanding of the importance of building inclusive systems that welcome athletes with and without disabilities into meaningful basketball experiences.
Trevor’s leadership strengthens Basketball Manitoba’s commitment to providing opportunities for all participants across the province. His background in governance, his role in the successful merger of operations, and his connection to the wheelchair basketball community make him a valuable contributor to the Board of Directors and to the continued growth of basketball in Manitoba.
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Marlin Kraus has been involved in basketball in Manitoba since 1991 as a player, coach, program leader, and builder. He played high school basketball in Winnipeg, competed with the Manitoba Provincial Team, and continued his playing career at the University of Winnipeg. Those experiences helped shape his understanding of the athlete pathway and the importance of strong coaching, positive team culture, and long-term development.
Following his playing career, Marlin transitioned into leadership and business, holding senior management roles for more than 25 years. That professional experience has strongly influenced his approach to coaching and sport leadership, with an emphasis on communication, accountability, planning, organizational culture, and developing people. He has consistently applied those leadership principles to his work in basketball.
When his children became involved in youth basketball, Marlin returned to the game in a significant way, becoming deeply engaged in the Manitoba basketball community. His focus was on helping create a positive and competitive environment for young athletes while improving coaching, programming, leadership, and governance within the teams and organizations he supported. He has coached at several levels, from community basketball to high school and provincial programming, earning multiple championships and honours along the way.
Marlin has also contributed to Manitoba’s high-performance pathway. As Head Coach of the Manitoba U17 Men’s Provincial Team, he helped improve the province’s competitive standing and supported the development of athletes preparing for the next level. His coaching success has helped many players advance to higher levels of basketball, including the OSBA, MCAC, ACAC, and U SPORTS.
In addition to his coaching roles, Marlin served on the Executive Board of the Jr. Bison Boys Basketball Club, where he helped strengthen club leadership and programming. He was also involved in the development of the successful JRB Elite Program and coached the 2002 Jr. Bison boys team, which achieved undefeated records in both Canada and the United States.
Marlin is currently the President and Head Coach of the Legacy Preparatory Basketball Academy program. In that role, he continues to support athlete development, coach leadership, program growth, and the creation of competitive opportunities for young players.
As a member of the Basketball Manitoba Board of Directors, Marlin brings a valuable combination of basketball experience, business leadership, governance knowledge, and athlete development perspective. His background in both sport and senior management allows him to contribute to discussions around strategic planning, program standards, leadership development, club basketball, and the continued growth of Manitoba’s competitive pathway. His experience helps support Basketball Manitoba’s work in building a stronger, more connected basketball system across the province.
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Yadili Okwumabua has been involved in basketball in Manitoba, Canada, and the United States as a high-level athlete and community coach. A graduate of Glenlawn Collegiate in Winnipeg, Yadili was one of the province’s top high school players, helping lead Glenlawn to three consecutive 4A Provincial Championships, an unprecedented achievement by any team in Manitoba at the time.
During her high school career, Yadili earned Manitoba 4A Player of the Year honours in both her junior and senior seasons. She was selected to the All-Manitoba Team and was recognized by the Manitoba Basketball Coaches Association as one of the province’s premier student-athletes. She was also the recipient of the Carl Ridd Award, recognizing outstanding achievement in athletics, academics, and community service.
Yadili also represented Canada as a member of the Canadian Junior National Team in 2001 before continuing her basketball career at the NCAA Division I level with the University of Oregon Ducks. During her three seasons at Oregon, she established herself as a valuable role player and strong rebounder, particularly on the offensive glass. Her time competing in the Pac-10 Conference provided her with experience at one of the highest levels of university basketball in North America.
In addition to her playing career, Yadili has remained connected to the game at the community level. She is currently coaching her children in the Winnipeg Minor Basketball Association, helping support the next generation of young athletes through positive grassroots basketball experiences.
With her background as an elite Manitoba high school player, Canadian national team athlete, NCAA Division I student-athlete, and community coach, Yadili brings a strong basketball perspective to the Basketball Manitoba Board of Directors. Her experience as both a player and parent-coach gives her a valuable understanding of the athlete pathway, from grassroots participation to high-performance competition.
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Kirby Schepp has been an active basketball coach and leader since 1993 and is currently the Head Coach of the University of Manitoba Bisons men’s basketball program in Winnipeg. Over more than three decades in the game, he has contributed to basketball in Manitoba, Canada, and internationally through coaching, coach education, athlete development, and high-performance leadership.
Kirby has played a significant role in Manitoba’s provincial and national basketball systems. He served as Manitoba’s Canada Games Male Coach in 2009 and was Head Coach of Canada Basketball’s Centre for Performance Prairie Region Boys Program from 2005 to 2009, after first becoming involved with the program in 2001. He also held the position of Manitoba’s High-Performance Provincial Coach from 2007 to 2009, helping guide the development of athletes and coaches within the province’s performance pathway.
In addition to his coaching work with athletes and teams, Kirby has been one of Basketball Manitoba’s most active NCCP Course Conductors, working across Levels 1-3 and supporting the development of coaches throughout the province. He has also been involved in the development of the NCCP model at the national level and is one of Manitoba’s few Master Learning Facilitators. His leadership in coach education has had a wide-reaching impact, helping strengthen the quality, consistency, and long-term direction of coaching in Manitoba.
Kirby’s basketball background also includes experience as a university athlete at the University of Winnipeg, a university assistant coach, and a former President of the Manitoba Basketball Coaches Association. These roles have provided him with a broad understanding of the game from multiple perspectives, including athlete development, coach mentorship, governance, competition structure, and system leadership.
His contributions have been recognized through several coaching honours. In 2007, Kirby was named the AAAA Boys Coach of the Year and the Coaching Manitoba School System Coach of the Year. For more than a decade, he has also been involved with Canadian national team programming in both head coach and assistant coach roles. In 2024, he was named the Canada West Coach of the Year, further recognizing his leadership and success at the university level.
As a member of the Basketball Manitoba Board of Directors, Kirby brings extensive experience in high-performance basketball, coach education, national programming, and long-term athlete development. His understanding of the provincial and national basketball landscape allows him to provide valuable direction on coach development, performance pathways, system alignment, and the continued growth of the game in Manitoba. His leadership helps ensure that Basketball Manitoba remains connected to both grassroots development and high-performance excellence.
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Michele Sung (Hynes) has been deeply involved in basketball in Manitoba as a university athlete, coach, mentor, and high-performance leader. She is the current Head Coach of the University of Manitoba Bisons women’s basketball program and has continued to play a significant role in developing athletes and advancing the game at the university, provincial, national, and international levels.
Michele completed her five-year university playing career with the Manitoba Bisons in 2010. From 2005 to 2010, she was recognized as a leader both on and off the court, serving as team captain for three consecutive seasons from 2007-08 to 2009-10. Her commitment to excellence in sport, academics, and community involvement was recognized nationally when she was selected as the 2009-10 CIS Sylvia Sweeney Award winner, presented to a student-athlete who demonstrates outstanding achievement in basketball, academics, and community service.
Her leadership and potential as a coach were also recognized early in her career. Michele received the 2009 Jim Bulloch Coaching Award, the 2011-12 Grey Cup Legacy Award, and a 2012 Women to Watch grant. At the 2013 Canada Games, she served as Apprentice Coach with Manitoba’s 17U Female Provincial Team alongside Randy Kusano, Don Thomson, and Coleen Dufresne, helping guide the team to a bronze medal.
Michele has since continued to build an impressive coaching resume, including her leadership of the Manitoba Bisons women’s basketball program. In that role, she has been responsible not only for athlete development and team performance, but also for recruiting, mentorship, program culture, staff leadership, and the long-term growth of young women in sport. Her work reflects a strong understanding of how basketball can develop confidence, resilience, leadership, and opportunity beyond the court.
In 2024, Michele was named Head Coach of the Canadian National Wheelchair Women’s Basketball Team and represented Canada at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. This national team leadership role reflects her ability to lead at the highest levels of sport while contributing to a more inclusive and accessible basketball system.
As a member of the Basketball Manitoba Board of Directors, Michele brings a valuable high-performance, university, and national team perspective. Her experience as an athlete, coach, mentor, and leader allows her to contribute meaningfully to discussions around athlete pathways, coach development, women and girls in sport, inclusion, and long-term basketball growth in Manitoba. Her leadership continues to help shape the direction of basketball in the province while supporting opportunities for athletes and coaches at all levels of the game.
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Jaime (Hickson) Taggart, based in Brandon, Manitoba, brings more than two decades of experience in coaching, sport leadership, education, and community basketball development to the Manitoba basketball community. A certified NCCP Level 4 coach, Jaime has built one of the strongest coaching and leadership resumes in the province. Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts with a Coaching major from the University of Winnipeg, a Master of Education in Coaching Studies from the University of Victoria, and a National Coaching Institute Diploma.
Jaime’s coaching journey began during her undergraduate studies, when she served as an Assistant Coach with the University of Winnipeg Wesmen women’s basketball team from 1998 to 2004 under longtime head coach Tanya McKay. She went on to hold coaching roles with Canadian Mennonite University in 2005, the University of Victoria women’s basketball team from 2005 to 2006, and Manitoba’s 17U Female Provincial Team from 2006 to 2007.
From 2006 to 2011, Jaime served as Head Coach of the Brandon University women’s basketball program, where she helped lead and develop student-athletes at the U SPORTS level. She later returned to the program as an Assistant Coach from 2021 to 2023 and continued into the 2023-24 season, further demonstrating her long-standing commitment to post-secondary basketball in Manitoba.
Her involvement in the game extends well beyond the sidelines. Jaime has worked in the offices of both Basketball Manitoba and Coaching Manitoba, giving her a strong understanding of sport administration, coach development, program delivery, and provincial sport systems. She has coached extensively at the grassroots and provincial levels and continues to play a leading role in basketball development in rural Manitoba.
Since 2017, Jaime has served as President and Board Member of the Westman Youth Basketball Association, where she has helped organize leagues, camps, and inclusive programming for youth in the Westman region. Her leadership through WYBA has been especially valuable in ensuring that young athletes outside Winnipeg have access to meaningful basketball opportunities, quality coaching, and strong community-based programming.
Off the court, Jaime serves as an Academic Skills Specialist at Brandon University, where she applies her coaching background and academic research to support students with diverse learning needs. A faculty member since 2006, she brings a thoughtful and inclusive approach to leadership, education, mentorship, and athlete development.
Jaime is also a strong advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion in sport. She has consistently emphasized the importance of female representation in coaching and leadership, and the need to create supportive pathways for women, girls, mothers, and families to remain involved in basketball.
As a member of the Basketball Manitoba Board of Directors, Jaime brings valuable experience in coaching, education, governance, rural sport development, and community programming. Her perspective helps strengthen Basketball Manitoba’s ability to serve the entire province, including Brandon, Westman, and rural communities. Her leadership, academic insight, and commitment to inclusive sport development make her a respected voice in Manitoba basketball and a strong contributor to the future direction of the association.